Webinar
July 8: The Sweet Spot: Choosing Equipment That’s Not Too Big, Not Too Small, but “Just Right”
ACA Member Exclusive Webinar, July 8 – 11:00 AM Pacific
Join us for an in-depth look into the science of selecting the perfect cider-making equipment in our upcoming Coffee Chat with Juicing Systems. In this session, we’ll look into the critical factors that can propel your cider-making operation to new growth. From understanding your current operational status and pinpointing bottlenecks to planning for future growth and comparing equipment options, we’ll cover it all. Learn how the right equipment can save time, reduce labor costs, and significantly boost your productivity and profitability.
Whether you’re an experienced cider maker or just starting out, you’ll gain valuable insights into making informed decisions that align with your goals. Explore side-by-side comparisons of different equipment setups, discover the financial benefits of financing, and get practical advice on choosing equipment that fits your needs and budget. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge to grow your cider business efficiently and effectively.
About Our Speaker
Meet Remo Trovato, the founder behind JuicingSystems.com. Originally from Switzerland, he found his home in Canada’s Okanagan Valley with his wife, Kristen. They started MobileJuicing.com to tackle food waste in orchards, but soon realized North America needed better juicing tech.
With Remo’s savvy and connections, he introduced European machinery to North America, innovating their operation. Now, Juicing.Systems not only sells but also services and maintains equipment, thanks to the team’s deep expertise.
When he’s not juicing, Remo’s shredding mountains on his snowboard or cherishing his family’s time. But what he loves most? The relationships with his clients. To Remo, the sale is not the end of the transaction, but the beginning of their relationship.
Can’t make it to the live webinar? This webinar will be recorded and made available to ACA members in our Resource Hub.
May 30: Navigating Trends: Insights Into Wine & Spirits for Cidermakers
Join us for an exclusive webinar hosted by 3 Tier Beverages consultants Julia Lechleiter and Mary Mills, in collaboration with the American Cider Association. We will explore Wine and Spirit trends and the possible intersection with Cider.
As the BevAlc industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial for Cider producers to stay informed to be able to adapt to shifting consumer preferences. In this insightful session, industry experts will explore key trends, innovations, and consumer behaviors that are shaping the Wine and Spirits landscape provided through NIQ Scan and Consumer Panel Data.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the cider industry, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and stay ahead of the curve.
About the Speakers:
Mary Mills
Mary Mills joined 3 Tier Beverages in 2022 from NielsenIQ, where she spent 14 years across client management, business development, and innovation insights. She has experience working with various clients in the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries, with 9 years focused on alcohol specifically. She holds a Marketing degree from The Ohio State University and is an avid Buckeye fan. She resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Andy and two children, Luke and Ava.
Julia Lechleiter
Julia Lechleiter started out her career at 84.51 on their Insights team where she supported emerging CPG brands in leveraging Kroger household data to guide customer-focused assortment, promotion, innovation and digital strategies. After supporting clients on numerous new item presentations and being exposed to the power of BASES innovation research, she joined NIQ on the BASES BevAl team. While she learned to love the BevAl industry, she missed working in a data platform to support clients run various analyses, specifically those related to retailer relations which led her to 3 Tier. Julia graduated from Miami University with a degree in Marketing, and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have a 1-year old son, John, and two cocker spaniels, Bailey and Phil.
June 27: Live Sensory Analysis Webinar with Brooklyn Cider House
You’re invited to a Live Sensory Analysis webinar on Thursday, June 27th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Pacific!
Join our Certified Pommelier panel as they guide you through an immersive sensory experience featuring cider from Brooklyn Cider House in New York.
During this live practice session, you’ll learn how to analyze and appreciate cider like a pro and prep for your Certified Pommelier exam.
Not able to make it to the live event? No worries! The webinar will be recorded and available for you rewatch at any time with your initial purchase.
Cider must be purchased separately. Please be aware that it may take several days to receive your cider order, so we encourage you to purchase your ciders as soon as possible. Also, please verify that cider can be sent to your state before purchasing ciders. Ciders can be purchased from Brooklyn Cider House by clicking here. Use code “CP2024” at checkout to receive $2 off the bundle price.
Cost for the webinar is $30 for non-members and $20 for ACA members. Are you an ACA member? You can find your discount code in the Resource Hub.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email. This email is a placeholder for the event. The evening before the event you will receive an email with a Zoom link to the webinar. Please note this link will be sent to the registered email.
May 13: 2024 Annual Membership Meeting
We’re thrilled to invite you to join us on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 12:00 PM Pacific on Zoom for our 2024 Annual Membership Meeting.
During the meeting, we’ll reflect on our accomplishments from the past year, take a close look at our new strategic plan, and discuss how we work together under the big tent of cider in the upcoming year to sustainably grow the cider industry. After the meeting, we’ll have an optional virtual cider hang for anybody wanting to network with your cider peers. Let’s lift a glass together to the great year ahead!
Please note that you must be an Active ACA Member to attend the meeting, but don’t worry if you’re not yet one, you can join or renew your membership by clicking here.
We’ll send you the Zoom link before the meeting on May 13, 2024, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox. We look forward to seeing you all virtually and celebrating the cider industry.
March 28: Live Sensory Analysis Webinar with Meriwether Cider
You’re invited to a Live Sensory Analysis webinar on Thursday, March 28, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Pacific Time! Join our Certified Pommelier panel as they guide you through an immersive sensory experience featuring cider from Meriwether Cider in Idaho.
During this live practice session, you’ll learn how to analyze and appreciate cider like a pro and prep for your Certified Pommelier exam. Not able to make it to the live event? No worries! The webinar will be recorded and available for you to purchase and practice at your convenience.
We recommend ordering Meriwether Cider well in advance so you have it available to practice with during the webinar. You can purchase your Meriwether Cider for the webinar here.
Cost is $30 for non-members and $20 for ACA members. Are you an ACA member? Contact Education Operations Manager Jennie Dorsey for your discount code.
Coffee Chat with 3 Tier Beverages
Are you curious about the latest trends in the cider industry? Join us for a members-only Coffee Chat webinar on January 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, where Mary Mills and Julia Lechleiter from 3 Tier Beverages will share insights on 2023 chainr retail cider sales and consumer behavior.
The duo will provide a comprehensive analysis of the top 100 US cideries, off-premise growth, and regional insights based on data from NielsenIQ. With their expertise in the beverage industry, Mary and Julia will identify the drivers of growth and highlight emerging trends in the cider market at the chain retail level.
But the conversation doesn’t end there! Continue the discussion with 3 Tier Beverages at CiderCon® 2024 on Thursday, January 18 at 10:30 AM. This session will be co-led with our partners at CGA, a leader in on-premise data, and 3 Tier Beverages, a BevAl focused consultancy.
Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain insights that can help your business thrive in the cider market. Register now for the Coffee Chat webinar and CiderCon® 2024 to stay ahead of the curve.
Additional Employee Retention Credit Eligibility & Other Tax Planning Opportunities – What Your Cidery and Accountant May Not Have Considered
Hey ACA members! Get your calculators ready and join us for an informative webinar on November 14 at 2:00 PM Pacific!
Many businesses took advantage of COVID-19 relief programs such as PPP and EIDL, but many more are still missing out on funds from the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and have not filed for all quarters in which they are eligible (up to 7 quarters). Eligible employers who paid qualified wages can claim up to $26,000 per employee in refundable tax credits. Another missed opportunity occurs when companies do not effectively utilize tax planning strategies. These strategies include the work opportunity tax credit, research and development credit, planning for long-term sustainability, bonus depreciation, and business expenses. Join Strategic Tax Planning, a licensed CPA firm for a discussion on the common tax planning techniques that could increase your business’s after tax cash flow.
Tina Azarvand
Tina joined Strategic Tax Planning and is a Tax Manager with the firm. While working as a Tax Attorney, Tina became interested in the Employee Retention Credit through the ever-evolving legislation, where she decided to shift her focus to assisting small businesses with ERC while it is available.
As a Tax Attorney, Tina focused on assisting individuals and businesses facing tax controversies with the IRS and local taxing authorities. In 2022, Tina was selected to the SuperLawyers: Rising Stars list and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list, both of which are distinctions given to less than 3% of the attorneys in each respective state. Tina was also selected as the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) Young Volunteer of the Year for 2022.
Live Sensory Analysis Webinar with Alma Cider
Join our Certified Pommelier™ panel in a live practice sensory webinar on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 PM Pacific featuring cider from Alma Cider. This webinar will also be available to rewatch and practice as a prerecorded event. ACA Members can register for a discounted rate of $15. The discount code for members can be found here.
Cider must be purchased separately. Please be aware that it may take several days to receive your cider order, so we encourage you to purchase your ciders as soon as possible. Also, please verify that cider can be sent to your state before purchasing ciders. Ciders can be purchased from Press then Press.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email. This email is a placeholder for the event. The evening before the event you will receive an email with a Zoom link to the webinar. Please note this link will be sent to the registered email.
Webinar: How Cideries Like Santa Cruz Cider Are Preventing Catastrophic Climate Change
There are a significant number of reasons why cideries like Santa Cruz Cider are looking to become more sustainable. Agriculture health, ingredient accessibility, customer engagement, preserving the bottom line, and protecting the planet are all driving cideries to focus on sustainability.
Join Jenny Morgan from Tradewater and Nicole Todd of Santa Cruz Cider Co. on June 6 at 10:00 AM Pacific for a discussion of the ways that Santa Cruz Cider committed themselves to sustainable action and how they came to partner with Tradewater.
We will also dive deeper into the high-impact climate projects that Tradewater leads and how each cidery can do their part to prevent catastrophic climate change.
Interested in learning how you can take action on sustainability in your cidery? Download this PDF with suggestions from Tradewater.
Our Speakers
Jenny Morgan joined Tradewater in 2022 as the Market Development Manager. In her role, she partners with organizations to help achieve carbon neutrality through sustainability consultation, emissions reduction, and the purchase of carbon credits. She operates under the belief that our most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone – it requires a collective effort. She is passionate in changing the way we view business and industry to be both profitable and purposeful. Prior to joining Tradewater, Jenny has worked within the technology and hospitality sectors, and comes with 15+ years of experience in Business Operations, Market Development, Events, and Community Engagement. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family and friends hiking, running, swimming, and planning themed celebrations.
Nicole’s love for cider started with a truck bed full of ‘found’ apples in a nearby orchard. Having a passion for fermenting anything she could get her hands on, she started Santa Cruz Cider Co. in 2013 with the help of her husband and her sister. They have built the company from the ground up on a shoestring budget with a hands on approach. Nicole lives on a historic apple orchard in Santa Cruz county with her husband and two dogs.
Webinar: The Story Within the Story of Cider
You’ve heard the headlines and the general trends for Cider. Join Brian “BK” Krueger and Dave Williams from Bump Williams Consulting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM Pacific to dive in a little deeper and really take a look at the KPI’s that matter and how you can apply them to your own situation, presentations, insights, and decisions.
You can expect to hear more of the story on Cider Velocity, Runway for the Future, the Role of Flavor, Pack Size and Type, Innovation, Regional Power, and the Modern Bev Alc Consumer.
This webinar is for active ACA members only. Not a member? Join now!
Our Speakers
Brian “BK” Krueger graduated from the University of Texas, Austin in 1996 with a degree in Marketing – focusing on Strategic Marketing & Promotional Strategies. BK is a 24-year Industry Sales Leader with a distinguished and accomplished history of growth and development across multiple National and Regional Craft Breweries. Rising from New Belgium’s first “Texas Beer Ranger” in 1999, BK spent 17 years growing in parallel with New Belgium’s success and expansion and held the role of Assistant Director of Sales for 5+ Years. Leaving New Belgium in 2015, BK spent the next 4 years applying his knowledge, experience, and skill set to an extended selection of National and Regional Craft Breweries helping to evolve them into the modern and future world of Craft Beer. Joining Bump Williams Consulting in 2020, BK now applies his talents and expertise on Sales Systems and Structure, Portfolio Development, Distributor & Retailer Partnership, and Sales Strategy & Growth across the broad spectrum of Beverage Alcohol clients.
Dave Williams graduated from Penn State University in 2006 with a degree in Marketing. Dave began his career at Marketing Management Analytics (Ipsos MMA) as a Data Analyst, running sales regression models and market level analytics across various Retail and CPG clients. He left MMA and joined Nielsen in 2010, working up to the role of Client Manager. In this role, Dave led a team dedicated to Market Mix, Price/Promo and Consumer analysis for Procter & Gamble globally, spanning multiple categories and brands across their wide portfolio. In 2015, Dave left Nielsen to join Bump Williams Consulting where he currently runs high-end analytics across the Beverage Alcohol universe. His key focus areas include Consumer Behavior, Pricing, Promotion and Retail Landscape for BWC’s Supplier, Distributor and Retailer clients.